Acetylene-gas generator.



A.. M. SALAZAR.

AGETYLBNE GAS GENERATOR. APPLIOATIDN FILED APR.16. 1913.

' 1,085,490. Patented Jail. 27, 1914.

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IIHIII I WITNESSES 6 "VI/EH70" GLKMQZ ALF/NWO M JALAZ/M I MW A. M. SALAZAR. AUETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION I'ILED APR. 1a, 1913.

1,085,490, Patented Jan.27,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5'3 WITNESSES INVE/VTUH 4/ 49 52 ALF/P500 M SAL/4214f? A TTOHNE V S ALFREDO M. SALAZAR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ACE'IY LENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 16, 1913. Serial No. 761,482.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFREDO M. SALAZAR, a citizen of Brazil, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Acetylene- Gas Generator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to acetylene gas generators; and has reference more particularly to gas generators for incandescent burners comprising a gas-generating chamber having means balancing the chamber pressure, and feeding means for the chamber controlled by the pressure balancing means.

An object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, strong, reliable and safe acetylene gas generator for use With incandescent burners.

Another object of the invention is to provide a generator in which the gas pressure cannot exceed a predetermined maximum,

and the gas volume cannot fall below a predetermined minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas generator in which the gas pressure is balanced by a hydrostatic head controlling the feed of carbid to the gas chamber. 7

The invention consists of the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and fully set forth in the claims. i

Reference isto be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an embodiment of my invention with parts broken out showing the detail of construction; Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the operation of the feed ing mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, 5 represents a gas generating chamber formed of suitable material, having preferably a curved bottom 6 and a frusto-conical top 7. The top 7 of the chamber 5 is provided with a large the same to float.

central aperture into which fits a carbid contamer 8, preferably cone shaped, provlded with a funnel-shaped bottom 9. The bottom 9 of the carbid container projects mto the chamber 5, the sides of the contamer 8 fitting tightly into the opening in the top 7 of the chamber 5. To prevent leakage of gas between the lateral surface of the container 8 and the top 7 an angularshaped member 10 is soldered about the container and the top of the chamber 5. he top of the container 8 is preferably curved and provided centrally with a valve 11, through which the container can be filled With carbid. I

A tubular member 12 is also secured to the top 7 of chamber 5 adjacent the lateral surface of the chamber. The tubular member 12 projects into the chamber far enough so that its lower end is submerged in the water of the chamber; and its upper end, above the chamber, is provided with an enlarged portion 13 having a cover 14. Due to the sub-v mergence of the lower end of the tubular member 12, when gas is generated in the said chamber the tubular member is filled with water, forming a hydrostatic head bal-, ancing the pressure of gas above the water in the chamber. By means of this head sufficient pressure is obtained to consume the gasin incandescent burners. i

Positioned in the. enlargedfportion 13 of the tubular member 12 is a float. 15formed of a metallic shell filled with floating material, for the reason that ifthe shell-deteriorates by the action of the water the material inclosed within the shell willstill cause Connected to the floating shell 15 is avertical rod 16 passing through the tubular member 12 and provided, at its end projecting through the lower end of the tubular member, with a head 17. Pivotally connected to the head 17 is an angular lever 18 mounted pivotally on the rod 19 secured to the walls of the chamber 5. Pivotally Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

secured to the other end of the lever 18 is a cup mg I to the funnel-shaped bottom 9 of the container 8. The cup 20, when in position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is directly opposite 20 provided with a trunnion 21 engaga bifurcated member 22 rigidlysecured and adjacent the opening in the funnelshaped bottom 9 of the carbid container 8 and prevents the fall of the carbid into the water of the chamber 5. To prevent excessive pressure of the carbid in the container 8 on the cup 20, a cone-shaped element 23 is positioned slightly above the outlet of the funnel-shaped bottom 9 within the container 8, which also revents the carbid from crowding the out et.

When the gas in the space between the water level and the top 7 of the chamber 5 falls in pressure, due to consumption of same, the hydrostatic head in the tubular member 12 also falls. This fall of the hydrostatic head in the tubular member 12 causes the float to fall and, in consequence, the rod 16 causes the lever 18 to swing on the vrod 19, causing the cup 20 to take the position indicated in Fig. 4. This allows a flow of carbid from the container 8 into the water of the chamber 5, thereby generating gas, the pressure of which will cause the level of water in the chamber to recede, and, therefore, the hydrostatic head in the tubular member 12 will rise and carry with. it the float 15, returning the cup to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consequently, preventing the carbid from falling into the chamber 5.

In view of the large difierence in diameters of the enlarged portion 13 of the tubu lar member 12 and the chamber 5, aslight' variation in the level of the water in the chamber produces a great change in the hydrostatic head of the member 12. This will cause the hydrostatic head to respond very readily to slight variation in pressures in the chamber 5. If, by some madvertence, a great excess of pressure occurs in the chamber 5, the level of water in the same will be i of sediment in the gas generating chamber depressed below the foot of the tubular member 12. The float 15 will be prevented from rising by the head 17 of the rod 16 coming in engagement with the end of the tubular member 12; and the hydrostatic head in the tubular member 12 will be forced out of same through an opening 24 provided in the cover 14 of the enlarged portion 13. This of the. apparatus. The chamber 5 is also provided with two cylindrical receptacles 25 and 26 secured to the top 7 on each side of the carbid container 8 and preferably level with same at the top, the lower ends of the receptacles 25 and 26 projecting into the chamber 5. The receptacle 25 is provided with an open bottom 27 with which is contacting interiorly a disk 28 fitting snugly into the receptacle 25. The disk 28 is provided with a large number of small perforations; and centrally secured to the disk is a rod 29 extending substantially to the top will preventdestructwn of the receptacle. Positioned on the disk 28, in the receptacle 25, is a layer of sand- 30, and above the sand isalayer of a purifying substance 31. The receptacle 26-has a closed bottom 32 which contacts interiorly with an imperforated disk 33 provided with a central rod 34. Resting on the imperforated disk 33, in the receptacle 26, is a series of superposed flannel washers.- The function of the disks 28 and 33 and of rods 29 and 34 respectively is to permit the extraction of the material from the containers when cleaning the same. The upper ends of the receptacles 25 and 26 are provided with sealing ca s 61 of customary design, and adjacent tiese caps a tubular member 35, is provided connecting the two upper ends of the receptacles 25 and 26. The receptacle '26 is provided with a valve-controlled outlet 36 located near its bottom, the valve 36 being connected to the main supply pipe.

The gas generated in the chamber 5 is purified by passing through the receptacle 25 that is, through the sand and purifying su stance contained within the receptacle, and then passes through the tubular member 35 to the upper end of the receptacle 26; Before passing through the valve-controlled outlet 36 into the main, the gas must pass through a series of superposed flannel wash- .ers, which causes an additional purification of the gas.

To prevent the reduction of volume between the water level in the chamber and the top 7 of the same, which will be produced by the formation of lime caused by the interaction of carbid and water, I provide an overflow formed of'a nipple 37 .secured to the chamber 5. Connected to this nipple is a small receptacle 38 having a drain cup 39.

It can be easily seen that the accumulation will cause the water in the same to rise, but the nipple 37 forming the overflow from the chamber 5 into the receptacle 38 will prevent the level ofwater in the chamber from rising above the nipple. The receptacle 38is provided with a drain cook 39 for emptying the receptacle.

To permit the stirrlng of sediment accumulated in the chamber 5, I provide a shaft 40 positioned substantially in the axis of the diameter 5 bearing with its lower end in a block 41 secured to the bottom 6 of the chamber. The upper end of the shaft .40, bears in a bracket 42 mounted on the rod 19. Secured to the shaft 40, below the bracket 42 is a worm wheel 43. Engaging the worm wheel 43 is a worm 44 mounted'on the shaft 45 hearing with one end in an extension arm 46 of the bracket 42. The other end of the shaft 45 projects out of the chamber 5 and is provided with an angular end so that a crank can be secured to it to cause same to revolve, whereby the shaft is caused to revolve. The lower end of the shaft 40 is provided with arms .47 adjacent the bottom 6 of the chamber 5, sothat when the shaft 40 rotates the arms 47 are rotating with it and thereby stirrin the sediment in the bottom of the cham er 5. The chamber 5, where'the shaft projects through, is provided with a stufling-box' 48, so as to prevent leakage.

The bottom'6 of the chamber 5 is also provided with a tubular ortion 49 to which is secured a valve 50. ngaging the valve 50 is a tubular portion 51 connected with a T member 52, which T receives a plug 53 and a tubular member 54. When the tank is to be drained the float 15 must be prevented from falling on to the bottom of the enlarged portion 13 of the tubular member 12. This is obtained by providing a staple 55. Engaging the staple 55 is a member 56 pivotally secured to a first-class lever 57 mounted on the cover 1 1 of the enlarged portion 13. The opposite end of the lever 57 is provided with a flexible element 58 carrying at its other end a ring 59. The ring 59 can be made to engage a hook 60 secured to the tubular member 12, and when so secured the float 15 will remain in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The plug 53 can then be removed and the contents of the chamber 5 is stirred by the means above described; the valve 50 is opened and, necessarily, the contents will flow out through member 51 and T member 52. After the chamber is drained, the plug 53 is restored and water is admitted into the chamber through the tubular member 54. The length of the tubular member 54 is such that its upper end corresponds with the-inner normal water level in the chamber and, therefore, no excess of water can be admitted into the chamber 5. When the proper level is reached in the chamber 5, the valve 50 is closed, the ring 59 is unhooked and the float 15 is allowed to fall slowly, will fall into the chamber 5 and the generated gas will cause the water to rise into the tubular member 12. The size of the tubular member is such that a displacement of the water level of a half inch in the chamber 5 will fill the tubular member 12 and its enlarged portion 13 to the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, The purpose of the hydrostatic head, as stated is to create su'flicient pressureso that the gas will burn in incandescent burners. This pressure will necessarily vary for different burners, but a height of about 80 inches above the level in the chamber 5 I find to be sufficient. All'the joints about the chamber 5 and container 8 are soldered so as to prevent leakage of gas.

thereby carbid.

The valve 11 is provided with an oil bath, so that a leak of gas from the same could be easily detected by the oil drops leaking out.

- From the above disclosure it will be seen that my device is automatic in its action, will prevent a dangerous excess of pressure by causing the escape of gas, that, it will easily respond to variations in pressure to maintain the same substantially constant, and, also, the volume of gas in the chamber 5 is substantially constant due to the prevention of rise of level of water in the chamber above a predetermined point. The chamber 5 is also provided with an elliptical handhole 62 normally below the water level in the chamber 5, and through this opening 62 various parts of the device can be adjusted or fixed when necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an acetylene gas generator,a gas generating chamber having a tubular member associated with said chamber to form a hydrostatic head in opposition to the chamber pressure; a carbid container associated with said chamber having an outlet thereinto constituting the feed for said chamber; a cup in said chamber controlling said feed; an angular lever in said chamber connected to said cup; a float in said tubular member; and means connecting said float to said lever and whereby the variation of the hydrostatic head in said tubular member causes the float to operate the cup, thereby controlling the feed into the chamber.

2. In an acetylene gas generator, a gas generating chamber; a tubular member having an enlarged portion associated With said' chamber and adapted to inclose a hydrostatic head above the water level in said chamber; a carbid container associated with said chamber and having an outlet thereinto constituting a feed for the chamber; an angular. lever pivotally mounted in said chamber; a cup controlling the feed pivotally connected to said lever; a float in the enlarged portion of said tubular member; a rod connecting said float and said lever, said cup controlling the feed being operated by the variation of the hydrostatic head through the medium of the float, rod and lever.

3. In an acetylene gas burner, a gas generating chamber having overflow means; a tubular member having an enlarged 'portion associated with said chamber and adapted to inclose a hydrostatic head above the water level in said chamber; a carbid container associated with said chamber and having an outlet thereinto constituting a feed for the chamber; a rod in said chamber secured to the lateral walls of the same; an angular lever pivotally mounted on said rod in said chamber; a cup controllingthe feed pivotally connected to said lever; afloat 1n the enlarged portion of said tubular member; a member connecting said float and said lever, said cup controlling the feed, being operated by the variation of the hydrostatic head through the medium of the float member and lever; means for rendering said float inoperative whereby the feed to the chamber 10 is closed.

In testimony whereof I havesigned my name tothis specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFREDO M. SALAZAR. Witnesses:

BENEDICT Jorrn, E. ToRRns, Jr. 

